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December 2006

December 11th 2006

Glasgow pay dispute resolved

The public services trade union UNISON has called off a strike by Glasgow City Council workers to defend members’ pay and conditions, following talks with council leaders.

The strike, planned for three days, would have involved 13,000 workers across all departments.

It had been called in protest against the city's pay review of lower and middle graded staff, which the union said would leave many low-paid staff facing substantial pay cuts.

The pay of the majority of workers for the council will either be increased or be unaffected by the review.

In a joint statement, Glasgow City UNISON branch chair Mike Kirby and council leader Steven Purcell said agreement had been reached on implementing the review to minimise pay cuts.

"We will now work together on staff development and service reform in order to ensure that we deliver a high quality service to the citizens of Glasgow and protect take home pay in the long term," the statement said.

“The council is committed to assisting individual employees who are in a loss of earnings position.

“It has given a clear commitment to ensure all appropriate action is taken to provide such employees with the opportunity to move to a higher level post, thus allowing maintenance of their earnings in the long term.”

The aim is to do this through development plans for staff and redesigning jobs and service delivery, with a target of March 2009.

But the joint statement said “the council is prepared to agree an extension beyond March 2009 where it has not been possible to complete the development plan and/or where service redesign has not been practically implemented.”